Hydrangea plant named ‘GRHPLF’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata plant named ‘GRHPLF’ that is characterized by its flower panicles that change in color from light green and white to green and becoming increasing blushed with medium pink as they mature, its well-branched plant habit with strong branches, its dwarf to medium plant size, its floriferous blooming habit, and its dense and sturdy flower panicles.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata.

Varietal denomination: ‘GRHPLF’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Applicationfiled for a plant derived from the same breeding program that isentitled Hydrangea Plant Named ‘GRHP12’ (U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 18/098,088).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘GRHPLF’. ‘GRHPLF’ represents a new panicle Hydrangea, a perennialshrub grown for landscape use.

The new Hydrangea resulted from a controlled breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Valkenburg, The Netherlands. Goals of the breedingprogram were to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata withsturdy stems, healthy foliage, and unique flower colors. The Inventormade crosses in 2013 between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plantsof Hydrangea paniculata in the Inventor's breeding program as both thefemale and male parents. The exact characteristics of the parents areunknown as seeds where pooled and sown from several crosses. ‘GRHPLF’was selected as a single unique plant in summer of 2016 from theresulting seedlings of the above crosses.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished usingstem cuttings by the Inventor in summer of 2016 in Valkenburg, TheNetherlands. Asexual propagation using stem cuttings has determined thatthe characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘GRHPLF’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘GRHPLF’ exhibits flower panicles that change in color from        light green and white to green and becoming increasing blushed        with medium pink as they mature.    -   2. ‘GRHPLF’ exhibits a well-branched plant habit with strong        branches.    -   3. ‘GRHPLF’ exhibits a dwarf to medium plant size.    -   4. ‘GRHPLF’ exhibits a floriferous blooming habit.    -   5. ‘GRHPLF’ exhibits dense and sturdy flower panicles.

‘GRHPLF’ can be most closely compared to the Hydrangea paniculatacultivars ‘Limelight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874), ‘Dvp Pinky’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,166), and ‘GRHP12’. ‘Limelight’ is similar to ‘GRHPLF’in having dense flower panicles, a well-branched plant habit, afloriferous blooming habit, and inflorescences with flower panicles thatchange in color from light green and white to green and pink as theymature. ‘Limelight’ differs from ‘GRHPLF’ in having a less dwarfed plantsize. ‘Dvp Pinky’ is similar to ‘GRHPLF’ in having a well-branched planthabit. ‘Dvp Pinky’ differs from ‘GRHPLF’ in having a less dwarfed planthabit and inflorescences with flower panicles that are less dense andmore pointed in shape. ‘GRHP12’ is similar to ‘GRHPLF’ in having strongbranches and dense flower panicles. ‘GRHP12’ differs from ‘GRHPLF’having a smaller plant size, and larger flower panicles that are darkerpink in color both early in the season and when mature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a three-year-old plant of ‘GRHPLF’ grown outdoors in a trialfield in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘GRHPLF’ in bloom infall.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘GRHPLF’ in summer.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘GRHPLF’ in fall.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of three-year-old plants of‘GRHPLF’ as grown outdoors in a trial bed in Boskoop, The Netherlands.The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-summer through autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, panicle type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Medium size, dense, and upright.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches 60 cm in height and 60 to 70 cm            in spread in the landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, NN155A and 164A in color.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—6 to 8 weeks for root initiation with a            finished plant produced in in a P9 container in about 12            months from a rooted cutting.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—Young; 145B, mature; N199B, old bark; 197B.        -   Stem size.—Average of 28 cm in length (excluding            inflorescence) and 6 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Young stems smooth and covered with lenticels            an average of 2 mm in length, mature bark is mostly smooth            and lacks fasciation.        -   Internode length.—An average of 5 cm.        -   Branching.—Freely branching with an average of 13 lateral            branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; both surfaces 145A.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 9.2 cm in length and 4.8 cm in            width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces; matte, and pubescent.        -   Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; 137A, young and            mature lower surface 137C.        -   Petioles.—An average of 7 mm in length and 2.5 mm in            diameter, both surfaces matte and slightly pubescent, color            145A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal conical panicle, comprised of            sterile and fertile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent            for an average of 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,            an average of 5 days.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 18 cm in height and 14 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—An average of 200 sterile flowers and 20            fertile flowers per panicle.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; up to 3.5 cm in diameter and            1.2 m in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 1 cm in            diameter and 4 mm in depth.        -   Flower type.—Sterile flowers rotate, fertile flowers rotate.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 6 mm in length            and 1.2 cm in diameter, round in shape, NN155D, sometimes a            flush of 63B, fertile flowers; an average of 3 mm in length            and diameter, ovoid in shape, 145C to 145D in color.        -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; petals do not open and remain in            bud stage, fertile flowers; 5, rotate and cruciform in            shape, ovate in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire            margins, average of 3.5 mm in length and 2.5 mm in width,            both surfaces matte, color; when opening and fully open            upper and lower surface NN155D.        -   Peduncles.—Primary peduncles; strong, flattened oval in            shape, an average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in width.            secondary peduncles 2 cm in length and 2 mm in width, 145D            in color, surface is matte and pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; moderate strength, an average of            1.6 cm in length and 1 mm in width, 145D in color, surface            is matte and pubescent, fertile flowers; moderate strength,            an average of 2 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, 145D in            color, surface is matte and pubescent.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4 to 5, rotate, elliptic to ovate            in shape, obtuse apex, acute base, entire margins, average            of 1.6 cm in length and 1.4 cm in width, both surfaces;            glabrous and matte, color: upper surface when opening; 145A            to 145B, lower surface when opening; 145C, when fully open            upper surface; 145C, changes to NN155D with flushes of 63B            maturing to 63A, fully open lower surface; 63B, flushed with            145A to 145B, changing to 145C with a hint of 63B, fertile            flowers; 5, rotate, ovate in shape, acute apex, broad            cuneate base, entire margins, 1 mm in length, 1.5 mm in            width, both surfaces glabrous and matte, color: when opening            and fully open upper and lower surface; NN155D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; flowers do not open, fertile            flowers; 1 pistil, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma;            club-shaped and 157B in color, style; 1 mm in length, NN155D            in color, ovary is 157D in color.        -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; flowers do not open, fertile            flowers; stamens; average of 10, filaments; 3 mm in length,            NN155D in color, anthers; broad oblong in shape, 1 mm in            length, 155D in color, pollen; low to moderate quantity,            156C in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘GRHPLF’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.